When American Idol season 8 premiered in January of 2009, viewers met Adam Lambert, and some AI fans think the show has gone downhill since his second-place finish. Back then, Adam was a virtually unknown artist, who quit the cast of the L.A. production of Wicked to audition for American Idol. His stint on the singing competition series changed the way that viewers looked at the show, as he displayed an unusual level of vocal talent and charisma. There are people who think that the show will never be the same, all thanks to Adam.
Throughout his time on American Idol, Adam won praise from most of the judges for his array of standout performances. He auditioned with Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, impressing everyone but a grouchy Simon Cowell, who called him "theatrical." He then advanced to Hollywood Week. His amazing voice was showcased throughout his time on the series, and his stellar rendition of Mad World during week eight of the competition earned him a standing ovation from Simon. Week after week, Adam had great performances which earned him a place in the finale, alongside his rival, Kris Allen. Adam didn't win, and a lot of the show's fans think he was robbed.
Nowadays, Adam is the frontman for Queen, so he's come full circle. Even though Adam was a frontrunner on American Idol, he was worried about fitting in on the show, according to Good Housekeeping. He stated, "I didn’t think I was the right kind of performer to … I didn’t think I would work on the show, I thought 'Oh, I’m not the type that they look for.'” However, Adam needn't have worried about that, as he would go on to have a huge music career after American Idol. While Adam has soared, his loss on the show seemed to pinpoint a problem with the competition's format. His loss struck many people as very unfair, and they haven't forgotten that he lost despite a "one in a million" three-octave voice. He's still close to other Idol alums and is appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show today. Adam touted this appearance on his Instagram:
While appearing on American Idol, Adam didn't state that he was gay, although he was open about his sexuality offscreen. Photos of him kissing another man surfaced while he was competing on the show, and this was considered highly controversial at the time. Adam came out after competing and confirmed that it was him in the photos. He said that he had nothing to hide. Since his time on the hit series, Adam has been in a few relationships and he is currently in a romance with Oliver Gliese.
Even though Adam didn't win American Idol, he showed the world (and future contestants) that it's possible to become incredibly successful anyway. Anything can happen, and Adam's life after Idol shows that good things can happen to those who don't win the American Idol competition. People who are thinking about auditioning for the show should look at Adam and how much he has accomplished. The show can be a starting point that leads to unbelievable success.
Source: Good Housekeeping